October 28, 2009
Rev. Donald J.
Harrington, C.M. has been President and Shepherd to St. John’s
University for the past 20 years, beginning his tenure in 1989. As
he concludes two decades of service, making him one of the longest
tenured Presidents in Higher Education, he looks to the future and
welcomes the opportunities for the University in preparing students
for the global society that lies ahead for them upon
graduation.
“You have to understand today’s students in order to educate them,”
said Rev. Harrington, C.M. “The questions we’ve asked ourselves as
a University are, ‘Whom do we serve – and how do we serve them?’
Today’s Millennial student is much different from students of a
decade or two ago. We’re currently addressing these differences
with our faculty, staff and administration in order to better serve
and prepare our students for the global world we live in.”
A University founded in 1870 and built on the premise of serving
the children of immigrants, St. John’s continues to provide a
college education to those less fortunate, with almost 50% of this
year’s freshman class coming from families with “very high
financial need.” This emphasis on serving the poor emanates from
the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the religious
community that sponsors the institution. In addition to its special
Vincentian mission, St. John’s has strong roots in New York City,
where it has three campuses in Queens, Staten Island, and
Manhattan. In addition, it has a campus in Oakdale, NY, as well as
Rome, Italy. A new site in Paris, France has recently been added as
well.
Born
in Brooklyn, NY, in 1945, Rev. Harrington, C.M. and his two
brothers (John, a clinical psychologist and Jay, a special
education high school teacher) were raised in the Catholic faith
and the “Brooklyn way” by their mother Ruth and father John.
Attending parochial school in Brooklyn, Don, as those near and dear
call him, attended Regis High School in Manhattan where his faith
grew stronger day by day.
Regis was run by the Jesuits, and the decision to continue the path
of the Jesuit teachings or veer off into uncharted waters as a
Vincentian weighed heavily on his mind. He decided to enter the
Seminary in his senior year (1963) and follow in the Vincentian
tradition because he wanted to work with the poor rather than in
education. “God has a sense of humor,” Father Harrington often
says, and that ultimate decision led to what has become a 37-year
career in education.
His college undergraduate and post-graduate years were formulated
at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Princeton, NJ and Mary Immaculate
Seminary in Northampton, PA. From there he was officially ordained
a Vincentian priest on May 26, 1973 and that same year left to
begin his career in education at Niagara University. He began
teaching as an instructor in Religious Studies, later served as
Director of Student Activities (1977-1980) and as Executive Vice
President (1981-1984). In 1984, his rise through the ranks at
Niagara was complete as he became the 22nd President (second
youngest ever appointed) at the University. His tenure as President
lasted until 1989.
“Father and I go way back; in fact the worst defeat I’ve ever had
in coaching came at Niagara University (with St. John’s last NCAA
Final Four Team in 1985 led by Chris Mullin), when he was a young
President there. And he never lets me forget it,” said St. John’s
Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Lou Carnesecca.
After completing 16 years at Niagara, Father Harrington
moved across the State from Western New York to Queens. Enter St.
John’s University. The move would be complete with his appointment
and official installation as President at St. John’s before 100 of
his Vincentian confreres on October 5, 1989. A new, young leader
had emerged and the time was now to fulfill a new challenge in his
career and life in running one of America’s largest Catholic
Universities. His anxiety and trepidation as a young 44-year old
taking over a major institution would be laid to rest in the early
years of his Presidency as he surrounded himself with a support
group of talented faculty, administrators and staff who would help
him chart the course of history at St. John’s through the 90’s to
the present day.
“I’ve known him for a long time since his days studying in the
Seminary and what amazes me is the way he grabs a hold of
challenges and runs with them,” said confidant and good friend Rev.
Joseph V. Daly, C.M., Assistant to the President at St. John’s
University “He is an extremely intelligent and insightful person
and he has great vision. He sees a lot of things that others don’t
see and still has a great passion and love for St. John’s.”
And,
while there have been 20 years of ultimate highs and lows, one
thing has always remained constant and that is the strong and
direct decision-making under Father Harrington’s leadership which
has translated into unparalleled success. The University now touts
record numbers in enrollment, which, for the past several years has
exceeded 20,000 and applications (that surpassed 50,000 in 2009).
The student population is remarkably diverse, with stronger
academic records than ever before, and come from across the U.S. as
well as from more than 120 countries around the globe.
Father Harrington’s tenure has been marked by
extraordinary accomplishment: a Capital Campaign – “Fulfilling
the Dream”(from 1998-2006) – that raised more that $272
million in revenue for scholarships, endowments, class curriculum,
expansion and renovation of existing and new academic buildings and
athletic facilities; and landscaping and beautification projects
that transformed a once commuter college into a vibrant campus
living environment. In fact, most who are familiar with St. John’s
and its history find it hard to fathom the changes that have taken
place in such a short period of time.
Other highlights have included the establishment of an Institute
for Writing Studies that will teach every St. John’s student the
art of the written word; innovative technology incorporated into
programs throughout St. John’s five academic units; and global
initiatives which have set the bar for future growth of study
abroad opportunities in all parts of the world. These are just a
few of the success stories that have occurred during his time at
St. John’s.
“People always talk about the buildings and all of the
construction and renovation on campus but I think Fr. Harrington
has constructed a University during his time here – not of
buildings – but really a plan so that our product would be educated
people who are leaders in their fields and in society,” said Julia
A. Upton, R.S.M., Ph.D., Provost of St. John’s
University.
In addition, athletic success has come in the form of two national
championships (Men’s Soccer in 1996 and Fencing in 2001) as well as
numerous BIG EAST Conference titles and championships by both the
men’s and women’s NCAA Division I programs at St. John’s.
Lou Carnesecca, now an Assistant to the President, was closing a
legendary Hall of Fame basketball career as coach at St. John’s in
1989 when a young, new president arrived on the scene. He has
always appreciated what Father Harrington has done for him since
his retirement and acknowledges the remarkable accomplishments of
Father Harrington as only Looie can.
“If
Father Harrington would have gone into the medical profession he
would have been an excellent diagnostician because he has that rare
ability to read people and situations – and, more importantly, come
up with the proper therapeutic measure,” added Carnesecca. “He is
the only man I know in this world who could have built the Rock of
Gibraltar without the rocks. That’s how good he is.”
And, while experiencing the good and the bad that come with his
title of President, the true test has been his ability to listen to
the concerns of a student body in excess of more than 20,000, a
full-time faculty that numbers 700 plus and a senior staff
complemented by a hard working Board of Trustees and Board of
Governors, all committed and unwilling to compromise their beliefs
– in doing what’s best for St. John’s University.
“The
facilities are dramatically different. The academic profile has
increased tremendously. The financial profile of the University has
increased to the point where St. John’s today is an investment
grade institution,” said Thomas E. McInerney, Chairman of the St.
John’s Board of Trustees. “The Vincentian spirit is much stronger
and much more evident than it was when I went to St. John’s. Father
Harrington has truly touched every aspect of the University.”
In a recent Town Hall Meeting held in September 2009, Rev.
Harrington, C.M., Dr. Upton, James
P. Pellow, Ed.D., Executive Vice President and COO, and Rev.
Patrick J. Griffin, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission and
Branch Campuses, spoke directly to deans, faculty, administrators
and staff about the importance of student engagement and, in
effect, rolled out the 2008-2013 Strategic Plan that has already
started to take shape.
Father Harrington also addressed the important topics
which the entire St. John’s University community faces in the 21st
Century. With a student body more diverse than ever before with
students from 44 states and 122 countries represented, 40% either
Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander or Native American, 57%
female and 48% Roman Catholic, St. John’s has become a true melting
pot of ethnicity and culture, much like New York City, with a
commitment, consistent with its Vincentian mission to serve
all.
“Father Harrington feels it’s important to be open to different
styles and different approaches which is part of the magic of St.
John’s. He has a great passion for the dignity of the human
person,” said Dr. Pellow. “I think in terms of a legacy, he will be
remembered as “The Mission President” because he brought it to
life. He embedded it throughout the institution and that is
evidenced every day at St. John’s in programs and services and the
way people interact with one another. I think part of that is
linked back to the fact that Father Harrington is the first
President of St. John’s that was formed in the Seminary in a
post-Vatican II environment. He brought that sense of Catholic
engagement and inclusion with students and the community that is so
much a part of our University culture today.”
Robert
D. Wile, Vice President, Chief of Staff and Chief Advancement
Officer at St. John’s, has worked side by side with Father
Harrington for the past 10 years and offers an insight into the man
behind the presidential walls.
“Fr.
Harrington is a man of incredible integrity. One always knows that
what he commits to, he ultimately will deliver and that has been a
great blessing to St. John’s,” said Wile. “There are no empty
promises around here.”
A major part of who he is and how he leads by example is measured
in his spiritual convictions, unwavering faith and love for St.
John’s. Those around him see a sense of great pride that resonates
in him as he observes St. John’s students engage in religious
activities, participate in service learning opportunities and seek
spiritual enlightenment through Campus Ministry.
“The Catholic and Vincentian character of St. John’s is very
important to Fr. Harrington. The building of St. Thomas More
Church, through the generosity of the Brennan Family and so many
others, continues to give him joy,” notes Rev. Griffin, C.M. “When
he is home in NY, he always attends the Sunday celebration with the
students in Queens. Our mission statement is very important to him
and the way in which it is carried out is a constant theme of his
presentations that stress ‘The mission is everyone’s job.’ And
above all, the students are always primary and emerge as his
highest concern.”
The
things that have guided him (family, his roots in New York and
Brooklyn, his passion to serve the poor and undying faith in God
and Catholicism) have never wavered throughout the course of his
life and tenure. His love for St. John’s, his insistence upon
sharing credit for all he has accomplished with those who have
worked with and for him, and his genuine humility in seeing his
Presidency as an opportunity to serve have been a hallmark of his
time at the University. As he opens the next chapter in St. John’s
history beginning in 2010, his passion has never been
stronger.
“A president has to reflect a lot. If you’re always busy, you’re
going to fail,” admitted Rev. Harrington, C.M. “If you don’t stay
focused and plan, you get caught up too much in today and lose
sight of tomorrow.”